Silence Descends: The End of the Information Age, 2000-2500

by George Case

Book Overview

Silence Descends: The End of the Information Age, 2000-2500 is not as much a novel as it is an imaginary book of non-fiction: a history of the future, written in the year 2500--a look back at where we have yet to go. Silence Descends is a cautionary tale; it is a critique of "the Microsoft mentality"--the belief in the power of technology to save us. This is the story of how the information age goes awry, and rather than enhancing our lives, actually...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1551520419
• ISBN13: 9781551520414
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

A book that does not deserve obscurity

This is a very interesting novel that is more in the epoch of Huxley's 'Island' than 'Brave New World.' By identifying modern day society as a mass of people who are patronised with an unlimited variety of information, Case believes that it is this censored, genetically dictated information that has lead to a callous abolishment of human sympathy from the corporate entrepeneurs. He signifies a Nuclear attack on Volgograd in 2004 as the zenith of this lack of comprehension for mass suffering. Unable to cope with the shame of humanities afflictions he invents a further 5 centuries and predicts a conclusion that will definitely provoke some thought in you. The main synopsis is that after a disaterous 21st century of civil wars, earthquakes and nuclear conflicts people eradicate trust in a media that can bring them information in a convenient time and dismiss it as an ideological tool of reward for the bourgoisie of tycoons that profit from it. Essentially they understand that there are no universal truths in the information they are confronted with and their disillusionment with it leads to a new consolidation of stability through an enforced utopia of a classless world. Humanity therefore evolves into a mass of people who abolish the capricious existence of unneccesary mediums and face a 'Paradise Now' of 'The Community of Soul;' a new world wide religion that has the courage to believe in an abstract faith and not be paralysed by any duties to feel inferior to a God. Destitute of the information that was previously dictated to them without question, the people feel a true union as homo sapiens who can revisit the most beautifully primitive communication of word of mouth via teleportation. No longer are they subservient to the consumerist information that they previously had to subscribe to and no longer do they have to forge their sympathies for suffering because people tell them to. This is a utopia brought about by the calamities of a century of diabolical suffering and its explanation as to how humanity becomes a haven for a prejudice free society is quite valid. Aesthetically this book is composed in the same way as a history documentation. More AJP Taylor than Yevgeny Zamyatin because there is definitely a mathmatical prose to the writing that may isolate some readers. It is precisely this cold hearted, unbiased prose that makes this is a good book in my opinion. It is more like a prophecy; a scrutiny of 5 centuries should not bring out the authors own bitterness, character development, avate garde syntax or anything that can be identified as contemporary fiction. A remarkable achievement from George Case and when reading it one has the same curiosities as when one first read '1984.' Can any of these predictions come true?

Full of Insight

A truly wonderful book. I've used it in a course I teach called Person & Society, and my students loved it. This term I will use this work as a foil against another text called the 'Barbarian Manifesto.' Perhaps Mr. Case you have some of your own ideas on how you'd like your work to be read? In any event, if you ever get a chance drop me a line (micallef@smtp.munet.edu).

I eagerly await the motion picture.

The bible of modern horror and a cold prediction for all possible futures. We can only hope the future is as informed, civilized and equitable as Mr.Case's vision. The poor and down trodden masses of the corporate reality have not a care for any of the information age and it's fleeting virtues.Education is rendered secondary if it becomes exclusive and the machines will have to run themselves.Information implodes into the void when comprehension is impossible and contradictory.

Long live the king...

The kind of novel that you snuggle into a comfy chair or bed with...Before it rips your reality asunder! This is the novel of the year by one of the most important new voices in fiction. George Case is a credit to writers everywhere and a messiah of talent for the years to come, I eagerly await his next offering.

George Case rocks the world.

This book is now the crown jewel of my collection. I began to read it with suspicion, but soon found myself completely absorbed into the plot. Mr. Case has done an excellent job on the pacing of this novel, and the elaborate dialogue sequences are done with the florish of master. I highly recommend this brave, new work.